Brian Boru's Fort

Situated on a steep-sided spur of gravel on the County Clare bank of the River Shannon in a strategic location where Lough Derg narrows into the river c. 1.3km N of Killaloe town. Known as ‘Brian Boru’s Fort’ or ‘Beal Boru’, this monument has long been identified, though without certainty, as the seat of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland from AD 1002 until his death at the Battle of Clontarf in AD 1014. According to Gem (2006, 94-5, note 71) the site clearly formed part of the wider Kincora complex. Excavated in 1961 by M.J. O’Kelly, the site was found to have originally been a ringfort with an internal house (CL045-031002-). During excavation it was found that a turf layer had formed over the ringfort following abandonment. It was revealed that the primary ringfort bank (H c. 1.1-2m; Wth 4.8-5.7m) was stone faced internally and was held in place externally by a closely set wooden palisade. A portion of the original fosse (Wth 4.5m; D 2.5m) was found fully preserved close to the present entrance. Coins found during the excavation allowed the internal house to be dated to the 11th century and a reference in the Annals of the Four Masters tells us that it was raided and demolished in AD 1116 (Harbison 1992, 55). The site was later reused but was unfinished and uninhabited and the present high bank, deep fosse and raised centre with sunken interior may represent an attempt by the Normans to build a ringwork (CL045-031003-) in the early 13th century. Beal Boru is a National Monument in state care, no. 591. (O’Kelly 1962, 1-27)